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Venkatesh completes 25 years Telugu cinema
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'Victory' Venkatesh enters the silver jubilee year in filmdom and continues to don the actor's cap though he has been selective in doing films in the last few years.
He has seven Nandi Awards (given by the Andhra Pradesh government) and six Filmfare Awards in his kitty (he's done 62 films over the last 25 years).
Venky's body of work spans various genres like action, romance, comedy etc. Women mainly flock to see his films as they are a blend of sentiments, emotions besides the song, dance, comedy and action.
Recently he acted with Kamal Haasan in Eenadu (the Telugu remake of A Wednesday) indicating that he's open to doing multi-starrers.
Perhaps because of his spirituality, he has not allowed success to go into his head. "We should be able to balance our spiritual and material life. I read the principles of Ramana Maharishi, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Osho, Bhagavad Gita etc to keep myself rooted to the purpose of existence," says the down-to-earth actor.
Right now he is busy shooting Nagavalli (the sequel to Chandramukhi) with five heroines including Anushka and Richa Gangopadhyaya.
A doting husband and dad to four children, Venkatesh is happy to spend enough time with his family.
Much ado about Nagarjuna
Actors releasing audios of new films is nothing new. But it's not often that you see the big guns of the Telugu film industry at such functions.
And that's what happened when Nagarjuna Akkineni turned up at the audio launch of Bhumika Chawla and Bharat Thakur's Thakita Thakita. Incidentally Nag has a guest appearance in the film produced by the couple under the Downtown films banner.
Nag is still dashing at 50 (he turns 51 on August 29) and can give the younger heroes a run for their money. The superstar who has been doing just about a film a year for the past two years is now busy with Gaganam (directed by Radha Mohan) and a film to be directed by Veeru Potla with Anushka and Priyamani.
Nag is also slated to do a film with Vijayendra Prasad, the father of the super successful director Rajamouli soon.
Speaking as the chief guest at the event, Nag said, "I'm happy for Bhumika and Anushka (who compered the event with writer Kona Venkat and also does a cameo in Thakita Thakita) for reaching such great heights. They were introduced by Annapoorna Studios (established by his father Akkineni Nageswara Rao). I have known Bharat Thakur also for quite some time."
Rana, ever ready for causes
Rana Daggubati has been in the news ever since he decided to turn actor from being an entrepreneur. Even before the release of his debut film Leader, Rana has become a celebrity.
Before the relaese of Leader, Rana lent support for social causes too like Walk to Fight Leprosy, the Blind marathon, etc. He had also participated in an event organised by B Positive magazine on Mothers' Day wherein he also showed off his culinary skills by making a mushroom omelette.
Now also whenever Rana is in Hyderabad (that is when he is not shooting for his maiden Hindi film Dum Maro Dum) he is present in various venues and occasions. Affable and sociable, he is ever ready to interact with people present at these events.
The last few days he has been spotted at the Santosham (magazine) award celebrations, the 25th day celebrations of the Telugu film Sneha Geetam, and also an art exhibition "Tiranga" coinciding with Independence Day.